Senior Landowner Relations Advisor

Senior Landowner Relations Advisor

Reports to:

Head of Corporate Affairs

Duration: 3-Year Fixed-Term Contract (with possible extension or permanency subject to funding and business needs)

Location:

Belfast (Hybrid)

SONI is Northern Ireland's Transmission System Operator. We are the people behind Northern Ireland's electricity grid. We make sure that every home, business, school, hospital, factory and farm has power – when and where they need it.

And that's just the beginning of our story. We have a critical role to play in delivering a cleaner, cheaper, more secure energy future for everyone living in Northern Ireland.

Our focus is on safety, security and reliability. Our work environment is challenging, fast-moving, collaborative and team orientated. Our culture is driven by continual development, knowledge and teamwork.

Our people are committed to reducing Northern Ireland's reliance on fossil fuels and transforming the energy system to make decarbonisation a reality – while providing a safe and reliable electricity supply in a way that secures the future for those who follow us.

The work you will deliver with us here at SONI matters. Join a great and supportive team and be part of the transformation.

Do you enjoy building relationships, working collaboratively, and making a positive impact on local communities and the environment? If so, this role could be a great opportunity for you.

As part of our landowner engagement team, you'll play a senior role in building and maintaining trusted relationships with landowners and communities throughout the life cycle of a SONI grid project. Using your experience in land rights and stakeholder engagement, you'll help shape sustainable energy solutions for today and for future generations.

We recognise the importance of balancing work and life and offer flexible working arrangements as well as support for career development.

• Serve as a trusted point of contact for landowners and communities, ensuring clear communication, consistency and support throughout projects.
• Conduct land referencing; including finding owners and occupiers of land.
• Work closely with colleagues to secure land rights for major infrastructure projects across Northern Ireland.
• Organise and attend site visits, meetings, and consultations with landowners and other stakeholders.
• Record and update land ownership data and maintain a landowner and stakeholder communication database.
• Build strong relationships through regular engagement and negotiation of land related agreements.
• Agree and document access with landowners for non-intrusive and intrusive surveys.
• Provide advice on agricultural and land management to facilitate project delivery.
• Utilise statutory powers and other available mechanisms to acquire land (Necessary Wayleave or Vesting Order) to assist with the maintenance of existing electricity infrastructure and installation of new electricity infrastructure when consensual agreement cannot be obtained.
• Collaborate with the engineering, environmental, and planning teams to ensure smooth project execution and delivery.
• Assist the Senior Landowner Engagement Lead to implement the Landowner Engagement Strategy for each specific project within SONI, with responsibility for delivering assigned outputs and outcomes.
• Ensure and maintain quality assurance on all documentation relating to project specific information to lands rights which is being issued to landowners.
• Support community engagement initiatives and pre-application consultation programmes.
• Apply knowledge and understanding of Northern Ireland and UK land management legislation to provide landowner, and agricultural best-practice advice to project staff, planners, legal advisors and consultants.
• Use GIS software to capture and analyse project data.

• Degree or three years' equivalent experience in agriculture, surveying or related fields.
• Knowledge of Land and Property Rights Management, wayleaves and easement processes and associated legislation.
• Strong interpersonal and communication skills with at least 12 months' experience in a customer-facing or stakeholder engagement-related role.
• Ability…